Mechanisms of selective Golgi-vacuole/lysosome trafficking pathway

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06160
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44010:Cell biology-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Jin Natsuko 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 光量子工学研究センター, 研究員 (90827362)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ゴルジ体 / 液胞 / 膜交通 / ライブセルイメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In all eukaryotic cells, intracellular membrane trafficking is an essential process. There is an anterograde trafficking flow for transport of newly synthesized proteins from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to their final destination through Golgi apparatus. On the other hand, retrograde trafficking flow is required for protein retrieval from Golgi to ER and intra-Golgi protein transport. I found that an unknown machinery is triggered to transport several and selective Golgi resident proteins into vacuole/lysosome for degradation, when the retrograde flow is inhibited. The studies in this proposal are aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms and a biological significance for this degradation process. Based on the classification of target Golgi proteins, the boundary to selective vacuolar trafficking is thought to reside in the trans-Golgi. In addition, I developed a yeast RUSH assay to analyze how the target Golgi-residents are sorted to the vacuole.

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、新規合成タンパク質輸送とは異なる「選択的ゴルジ体ー液胞間輸送経路」の存在が示唆された。また、酵母RUSH法の構築及び高速超解像ライブセルイメージングと組み合わせることにより、これまで酵母研究では困難であった積荷輸送の全容を詳細にライブセルイメージングにより追跡することが可能となった。